Vietnam records 1,831 new COVID-19 cases on May 18
There were 1,831 COVID-19 infections registered across Vietnam on May 18, an increase of 45 new cases compared to the number reported on the previous day.
Hanoi (VNA) - There were 1,831 COVID-19 infections registered acrossVietnam on May 18, an increase of 45 new cases compared to the numberreported on the previous day.
Thenew transmissions were detected in 48 cities and provinces, bringing thecountry's tally to 10,701,796.
Thecapital city of Hanoi stilltopped the country in terms of new daily infections, with 403patients.
Itwas followed by northern Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho provinces, with 139 and 125 cases.
Therewas one COVID-19 related death reported in on the day, bringing the country’sCOVID-19 death toll to 43,072, accounting for 0.4 percent of total cases.
Atotal of 8,437 patients were given the all-clear, taking the total number ofrecoveries to 9,373,294 since the pandemic began.
About217.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the countryto date, of which approximately 2.8 million have been given to children aged 5to 11./.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine provided through the COVAX Facility should be used first to vaccinate children aged from six to below 12 years to speed up the inoculation for this age group, according to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).
The European Commission (EC) has recognised the digital COVID-19 certificates of Vietnam, Indonesia and Seychelles as equivalent to the EU COVID Certificates issued by authorities in the EU countries.
Vietnam will drop the COVID-19 test requirement for visitors entering the country starting from 00:00am May 15 as the pandemic has been brought under control.
The Ministry of Health on May 17 asked localities nationwide to complete the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged from 5 to under 12 and the administration of the third shot for people over 18 by the second quarter of 2022.
Although no local cases have been detected, Vietnam is entering the peak season for Aedes mosquitoes while increased domestic and international travel during summer adds to the risk of the virus entering and spreading quickly.
Leading ophthalmology experts shared their experiences in preventing blindness and treating eye diseases at the 2025 Ophthalmology Conference in Hanoi on August 8-9.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) 
